New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 27, 12 April 1845
... situated on the same stream, the Natoki, which takes its rise from Mount Egmont, and is about ten yards wide.News of a second set of locally sourced stones Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 184, 13 September 1845The other Mill which is also turned by a breast wheel, and is furnished with one pair of stones, is remarkable in many respects. It belongs to Mr. S. Oliver an ingenious and industrious settler who was a working miller in England : the whole of the machinery was made in the settlement under his direction, and in part by himself, in making the bolting machine not being able to procure any wire, he has substituted thin slips of wood for the coarser parts, and muslin for finer parts.
The stones, which are three feet ten inches in diameter, are made of a bluish kind of granite, which is met with in great abundance on the shore of the district, and which is found to answer the purpose of grinding remarkably well. This is worth remembering as, there will be no further occasion to send to Sydney or England for French Burrs, when a substitute, proved by experience to answer in every respect, may be had in the Colony for less than one-third their cost. The price of grinding at these Mills is 10d. per bushel, the Miller retaining the bran, or 15d. without the bran, or 1s. 6d. per bushel for grinding, dressing and delivering the flour and bran. Mr. Varaham brought with him a sample of the flour produced at this Mill which was declared, by competent judges to be of first rate quality. We are informed that Mr. Oliver has offered to deliver flour of this quality in Wellington for £12, per Ton cash. If the settlers at New Plymouth had obtained possession of their land according to Mr. Commissioner Spain's decision, they would now be busily engaged in preparing to supply Wellington with flour, instead of the settlers of this district still drawing their supplies from the neighbouring Colonies.
Mr. S. Oliver has just had prepared, by a stonemason named Williams, a second pair of stones for his mill. The first pair, which have been at work some months, grind equal to any French burrs. Mr. Williams offers to cut a pair for the Nelson mill if required.
The land on which the mill stood was bought by the local council in 1938: Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 273, 18 November 1938
First Flour Mill.The millstones have been returned to the mill site. [info]
The land on which the first commercial flour mill in New Zealand was established has been acquired by the New Plymouth Borough Council. The objects of the council are to preserve the historical association of the site land to ensure that no buildings can be erected which would obstruct the view of the natural beauties of a pleasant walk alongside Huatoki Stream, in the centre of the town. The foundations of the old mill can still be seen on the site, while the gristing stones are among the exhibits in the Taranaki Museum at New Plymouth. The land was purchased by the council from the estate of the late Mrs. Selina Wells, into whose family's possession it came in an interesting way. In the early days of Taranaki Mr. W. K. Hulke imported the first Jersey cattle and established a notable herd. One of the heifers was sold to Mr. Zaccheus Wells, but she proved to be of such outstanding quality that Mr. Hulke wished to buy her back. He offered the flour mill site, and the land was accepted by Mr. Wells in exchange for the heifer, which died in the following season.
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